225+ Anchor Tattoos Perfect For Your Next Tattoo (with Meanings)

Nowadays, a lot of young people are starting to consider getting a tattoo. Gone are the days when it was looked upon as a sign of rebellious behavior. Today, both parents and children alike are open about getting a tattoo. So if you’ve had one before, you might find getting an anchor tattoo appealing.

Why Should You Get A Tattoo?

Obviously, a tattoo is optional. Nobody requires you and should require you to get a tattoo. But if you think that you want to get a tattoo and are looking for other reasons to be convinced even more, here are a few reasons why you should get a tat.

It’s a form of self-expression.

Your body is often considered as your own canvas (although of course there should always be a limitation to this). With that said, a lot of people have taken the opportunity to put this form of body art on themselves.

There are many ways to show your identity through tattoos. Because there are so many designs imaginable and there are a lot of colors of ink to choose from, the sky is the limit in terms of using an image that best describes your sentiments. Not to mention that there are many symbolisms each image has. You are bound to find something that speaks to you.

You can put any design you want.

Like what was said above, the sky’s the limit in terms of choosing your design. As long as it is not offensive and obscene, you are free to choose any image that has the right look and symbolism to you.

When it comes to choosing a design, it would be advisable to think of a certain event or person that you want to focus on. This will help you narrow down what you want to portray. Once you’ve figured that out, it’s time to look for images that fit that symbolism. To some extent, you can also add your own meaning to the tattoo to make it uniquely you.

You are free to decide where you want it.

Aside from the very sensitive areas of the body, you are free to decide where you want to put your tattoo. If you want it on your arm, then no one is stopping you from doing so. In picking the right place for your tattoo, you have to consider a few things:

Pain Tolerance

The first thing you should consider is your pain tolerance. Different areas give different levels of pain regardless of your own pain tolerance. More sensitive areas where nerves and bones are abundant tend to hurt more when a tattoo is applied. However, you can also make use of more muscular body parts like the back, arm, and leg if you have low pain tolerance. Your tattoo artist will also advise you on where the tattoo can be best placed.

Design Size

Depending on the tattoo, the area of the body you are eyeing might not be the best place to put it. So, you can either have an idea of where you want to put the tattoo and then adjust the design accordingly. On the other hand, you can also create your design and then determine which body parts are wide enough to have your tattoo perfectly fit there.

It’s a great reminder of life events and mantras.

Face it, a sticky note or a cellphone wallpaper is not enough to remind you to do your best, to keep the faith, or to pay respects to dead loved ones. If you want to take these reminders to the next level, then get a tattoo. You no longer need to check your phone or pull out a notebook to remember your favorite mantra or the people who have made big changes to your life.

It’s simply beautiful.

And finally, if you are still wondering why you should get a tattoo, think of this – it’s beautiful. You get to pick the design and if you pick the right tattoo artist, the tattoo will end up beautiful.

A tattoo does not necessarily upgrade your beauty or appeal, but it does help increase your confidence and self-love. The more thought and effort you put on your tattoo, the more it will mean to you and as you appreciate it, it becomes more beautiful in your eyes.

Anchor Tattoo Symbolisms

You might not be aware of it, but there are several meanings attached to anchors. The list below shows some of the meanings associated with this image.

Hope

An anchor is a symbol of hope for a lot of people. This is due to the fact that an anchor can be the only hope of a ship or a boat when it’s stormy and they are stuck out at sea. If you’ve had a similar experience, then an anchor tattoo with an additional element of a ship being steady is a good tattoo concept.

Strength

One of the more common meanings attached to an anchor is strength. Just looking at the image of an anchor, you will already understand why strength is one of its major characteristics. Before small anchor tattoos became popular, the tattoo designs for anchors used to be big and manly. Men who want to show their love for the sea and sailing used to put anchor tattoos on their biceps.

Calmness

An anchor is used to steady a boat or a ship when it needs to stay in its place. This is where the anchor takes its symbol of being calm. If you have a calm personality or you want a reminder to stay calm, then this is a perfect symbolism for your anchor tattoo.

The Sea

For Christians, the anchor is closely associated with the sea. In fact, it is often used as a symbol of Jesus. If you are familiar with the Bible, then you also know that there were several stories that involved Jesus and the sea.

Another famous Christian is St. Clement of Rome. Unlike Jesus who has taught his apostles a lot of stories by the sea and even on boats, St. Clement of Rome was thrown to his death using an anchor.

Life

Another symbolism of an anchor is life. In Ancient Egypt, the Ankh, which looks very similar to the shape of the anchor, is the symbol of life. Hence, some scholars believe that an anchor can symbolize life in terms of having a male and a female come together. The upper part of the anchor symbolizes the male sexual organ, while the bottom represents the female’s.

Before You Get A Tattoo, Consider These Things First

If you have the slightest doubt on whether or not you should get a tattoo, then don’t get a tattoo yet. A tattoo is permanent and if you start the session without having that conviction, you might end up resenting ever getting a tattoo. To avoid this, make sure that you have considered these things first.

The Permanence

Probably the most notable characteristic of a tattoo is its permanence. Aside from the many designs that you can do with it, a tattoo’s permanence is one of the characteristics that make people want to have it. However, this isn’t the same for everyone.

For others, the permanence of a tattoo is such a big commitment that it becomes scary. If you are scared of getting one, then you are on the right track because this allows you to think things through even more. Once you get a tattoo, you will never be able to remove it and if you tried, you would have to shell out a huge amount of money and bring yourself into serious pain.

A Henna Tattoo

A lot of people will suggest that you try a henna tattoo first if you are not sure of how to take permanent tattoos. Henna tattoos make use of dyes coming from the henna plant that is used to create color on the skin. Unlike permanent tattoos, henna tattoos only last for a few weeks. At the same time, it doesn’t involve puncturing the skin so that the dye is put in place.

Old Age

Why old age? Well, since tattoos are permanent, you can expect them to be there even when you grow old. This is an important thing to consider because you might change your feelings towards tattoos when your skin starts to sag and the color of the tattoo fades. Sure, a tattoo looks cool and beautiful now that you are young, but in time, the color will fade and the image will not be so clear when your skin starts to lose its elasticity.

Why Do You Want It?

However, in spite of what the tattoo will look like, what you should also consider is how much you want to get a tattoo and why. When getting something as permanent as a tattoo, you should always know why you want it in the first place. If you are getting a tattoo because it makes you feel that you belong in a subculture or that it’s the famous trend today, then these reasons might not be enough for you to appreciate the tattoo when the time comes that you don’t like it anymore.

The reason for you getting a tattoo is important and ideally, it should be rooted in a deeper meaning because this will help you like your tattoo even if it turns out bad.

Your Pain Tolerance

Another thing to consider is your pain tolerance. When you ask around about how much a tattoo hurts, some people will tell you that it doesn’t hurt at all. Some people would even brag about not feeling anything. However, this is not true and you should take their advice with a grain of salt.

A tattoo works by having a needle puncture the topmost layer of your skin to inject ink. At the very least, you will feel discomfort because your skin is not used to this kind of continuous piercing. Nonetheless, if you have a low pain tolerance, there’ still hope for you. There are areas in the body that will be less painful when you get a tattoo. You can ask your tattoo artist about their recommendations on this.

Your Budget

So you want to get a tattoo, but did you know that on average, it costs at least $50 an hour? Yes, this is quite a lot of money, and if you are on a tight budget, getting a tattoo might not be practical. But don’t lose hope, because there are ways for you to be able to get a tattoo even without paying a lot of money. All you have to do is look for artists that are willing to give huge discounts so that they can add your tattoo design to their portfolio.

The Tattoo Artist

Last, but not the least, is the tattoo artist. When you already have a design and budget in mind, the next thing you have to look for is the tattoo artist. If your anchor tattoo is simple, you can go to any trusted artist. However, if your design has a lot of detail, it’s best to go to someone who is known for making intricate designs. In this way, you don’t have to worry if they will do sloppy work.

Elements That You Can Add To Your Anchor Tattoo

A simple anchor tattoo is nice in itself but if you want to add more elements to it, then here are some of the things you might want to add to create a more unique anchor tattoo design.

A Quote

Anchors are known to symbolize strength and calmness. To add something more concrete to your tattoo, you can add a quote that talks about strength and calmness too. Some people choose to put Bible verses since it offers a calming feeling to those who have faith in God.

A Ship

There is no other association so close to an anchor than a ship. A ship and an anchor always come together because the anchor serves as the weight that keeps the boat in place even in turbulent weather. To emphasize how an anchor keeps the ship standing, having a ship with your anchor tattoo will be ideal. You can even add water in the background so you can paint a real picture of a scenario.

A ship and an anchor also work well for couples looking for couple tattoos. The anchor here can symbolize being grounded or being the weight that pulls the ship together.

A Compass

Another great couple tattoo idea is an anchor and a compass. A compass is often associated with direction and so, in couple tattoos, it’s nice to have someone set the direction in a relationship. If you’re looking for a design that will perfectly match an anchor that symbolizes stability and strength, then a compass is the perfect complement.

An Underwater Background

If you have a love for the sea, then an underwater background may sound appealing to you. In this design, you are free to choose which sea creatures you would like to add as additional elements to your anchor tattoo. You can even add other elements on the anchor itself, like a rope tied around it.

Places Where You Can Put Your Anchor Tattoo

Depending on the design of your tattoo, there are areas where it would be ideal to put them. Here are some of the common body parts that are perfect placements if you are planning to get a small anchor tattoo.

The back of the ear is a perfect place to put tattoos that you don’t want everybody to see. If you have long and curly hair, this area is often covered so you don’t need to worry about the tattoo standing out and getting lots of attention. A word of caution though, this area tends to be sensitive because it is very close to the bone. Any area close to the bone will give at least a little bit of discomfort because you can feel the buzzing of the needle through your skin.

Nape

The nape is another hidden spot for tattoos especially when you have long hair. Since anchor tattoos are small and compact, they will definitely emphasize your nape when you put your hair up. Some people prefer to have their tattoo a little bit lower too so it can be covered by normal shirts.

Shoulder

The shoulder is a common place to put tattoos of different sizes. Not only is the area wide enough to accommodate tattoos that have a big background, but it is also bare enough for a small anchor tattoo to emphasize right away. Think about it – a small tattoo on your shoulder will add a touch of sexiness to your shoulder.

Below The Collarbone

The area below the collarbone is not a common place where people put their tattoos. In fact, this area isn’t always considered when people get tattoos because if their goal is to make people see the whole tattoo, then it would be hard to look for clothes that are low-neck without them being too revealing. On the other hand, if people want to hide their tattoos, it can also be a challenge to look for clothes that will cover the whole area. Usually, the area below the collarbone is perfect for horizontal tattoos.

Above The Elbow

If you want another uncommon area where you can put your anchor tattoo, then it’s time to start noticing the area above your elbow. Yes, this is on your arm, just parallel to your ribs.

The place above the elbow is a subtler place to have a tattoo because it won’t be seen right away. It’s only going to be visible if someone is at your back. The size that perfectly fits this area is not an anchor tattoo whose edges will show on the other side of the arm. Instead, the anchor tattoo should be small enough to stay hidden.

Behind The Wrist

Possibly one of the most painful areas to have a tattoo is the area behind the wrist. This is because of two reasons. One, the skin is thin and close to the bone. And two, because there are a lot of nerves in the area. However, if you have a high pain tolerance, then this will not be a problem (even though you will experience a slight discomfort regardless of your pain tolerance). Once you get through the pain and discomfort, the anchor tattoo will be so much worth it especially since the area behind the wrist is such an ideal place for small and subtle tattoos.

Hips

If you want to add extra sexiness to your bathing suits and bikinis, putting your anchor tattoo on your hips will help draw the eye to that area. Your hip is a wide canvas and what’s great about this area is that you can choose to put small or large tattoos and still look beautiful.

Ankle

Lastly, small anchor tattoos can also be placed on your ankle area. Your ankle is just a small space so it’s better to adjust the size of your tattoo to fit your ankle size. Take note, like your wrist, this is also a boney area so you will feel a little discomfort when the needle starts to pierce through your skin.

Now that you know some meanings and tattoo inspirations for your anchor tattoo, you can go to your chosen tattoo studio to consult with a tattoo artist. Make sure that before you get your tattoo appointment, you are really ready to have an anchor tattoo on you forever.